REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 08714438 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1156388

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FOR

HEALTHWATCH DARLINGTON LIMITED

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

4

Independent Examiner's Report

5

to

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

to

9

Notes to the Financial Statements

10

to

15

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purpose of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the proviso's of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Advancement of health and the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship by:

a) providing Information and Advice to the general public about local Health and Social Care Services;

b) making the views and experiences of members of the general public known to to Health and Social Care providers;

c) enabling local people to have a voice in the development, delivery and equality of access to local Health and Care Services and Facilities;

d) providing training and the development of skills for volunteers and the wider community in the understanding,scrutinising, reviewing and monitoring Local Health and Care Services and Facilities

Public Benefit

All activities undertaken by Healthwatch Darlington subscribe to our charitable aims and are carried out for the public benefit. The charitable aims have been developed and decisions relating to activities undetaken by the charity have been informed with due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charities Commission.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

Charitable objectives against activities delivered in 2024-2025

Objective 1 - providing Information and Advice to the general public about local Health and Social Care Services.

Activities

We continue to provide the public with information and signposting attending many meetings and activities organised by other organisations as well as our own, we keep our website updated as well as our social media presence and produce a newsletter electronically every week containing up to date information from the health and social care sectors.

Objective 2 - making the views and experiences of members of the general public known to Health and Health and Social Care providers.

Activities

Regular attendance at meetings held with health and social care providers, including attendance at the Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB place meeting.

Objective 3 - enabling local people to have a voice in the development, delivery and equality of access to local Health and Care Services and Facilities

Activities

We use a range of technological and digital solutions so, people now have more of a choice in how they interact with us, either face to face at our community hubs, on-line via various teleconference facilities or phone, website and social media.

Objective 4 - providing training and the development of skills for volunteers and the wider community in understanding, scrutinising, reviewing and monitoring Local Health and Care Services and Facilities

Activities

We conduct Zoom or face to face meetings with volunteers. Staff attend meetings either online or face to face with a range of public, private and voluntary and community sector stakeholders. Two board members attend meetings of the Governing Council and the subcommittees of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and contacts are maintained with Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust and other providers. Healthwatch Darlington also facilitate regular meetings of the DOT network (Darlington Organisations Together) which has remained popular and our new Mental Health Network.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial summary

Full details of the Charitable Company's financial position can be found in the accompanying financial statements attached to this report. The Statement of Financial Activities shows total incoming resources of £103,910 (2024 - £233,281). Total resources expended were £133,497 (2024 - £220,138).This resulted in a deficit to the reserves for the year of £ (29,587).

Principal funding sources

The core contract of £76,497 (2024 - £78,669) was received form Darlington Borough Council provided by the Department of Health for the creation of Healthwatch in each local authority within England.

Reserves policy

Healthwatch Darlington aims to comply with the recommendations of the Charity Commission by maintaining reserves at between 3 and 6 months of planned expenditure. At 31 March 2025 free reserves amounted to £45,390.

The board have established designated fund for potential redundancy costs in the case that the contract with Darlington Borough Council is was not extended. This reserve is adjusted annually on the basic of employees' period of employment with Healthwatch Darlington Limited and predecessor organisations where redundancy liability has been transferred.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Risk assessment

Risk assessment and management is built into the work of the Board of Trustees and risks of individual projects and activities are assessed on a case by case basis.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

08714438 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1156388

Registered office

c/o Tandem Hub

Morton Park Business Training Centre

Morton Park Way

Darlington

Co. Durham

DL1 4PG

Trustees

V Johnston

S E Mcallister

Dr R T P Upshall

W Ross (resigned 19/4/2024)

Ms V R Douglas

R H Jones (appointed 22/5/2024)

Independent Examiner

Momentum Taxation and Accountancy Ltd

Harelands Courtyard Offices

Moor Road

Melsonby

Richmond

North Yorkshire

DL10 5NY

Bankers

The Cooperative Bank

P.O. Box 250

Delf House

Southway

Skelmersdale

WN8 7QT

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 18 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Ms V R Douglas - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Healthwatch Darlington Limited ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

P Cartwright

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Momentum Taxation and Accountancy Ltd

Harelands Courtyard Offices

Moor Road

Melsonby

Richmond

North Yorkshire

DL10 5NY

Date: .............................................

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Charitable activities

103,910

-

103,910

233,281

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

GENERAL

133,497

-

133,497

220,138

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(29,587

)

-

(29,587

)

13,143

Transfers between funds

10

(10,000

)

10,000

-

-

Net movement in funds

(39,587

)

10,000

(29,587

)

13,143

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

84,977

11,524

96,501

83,358

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

45,390

21,524

66,914

96,501

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

7

120

-

120

241

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

8

2,345

-

2,345

39,000

Cash at bank and in hand

46,073

21,524

67,597

88,967

48,418

21,524

69,942

127,967

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

9

(3,148

)

-

(3,148

)

(31,707

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

45,270

21,524

66,794

96,260

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

45,390

21,524

66,914

96,501

NET ASSETS

45,390

21,524

66,914

96,501

FUNDS

10

Unrestricted funds

45,390

84,977

Restricted funds

21,524

11,524

TOTAL FUNDS

66,914

96,501

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

V R Douglas - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from charitable activities includes income received under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to specific performance conditions and is recognised ad earned.Grant income included in this category provides funding to support performance activities and is recognised where entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income received to deliver services over a specified period covering more than one financial year is accounted for over the specified period: related expenditure is accounted for when incurred.

Investment income relates to interest earned through holding assets on deposit.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer equipment

-

33.33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company contributes to a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company. The annual contributions payable are charged to the SOFA.

2.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

£

Other non-audit services

1,637

1,554

Depreciation - owned assets

121

120

Other operating expenses

4,051

32,532

3.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

4.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2025

2024

Charitable staff

5

5

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

5.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

fund

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Charitable activities

233,281

-

233,281

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

GENERAL

220,138

-

220,138

NET INCOME

13,143

-

13,143

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

71,834

11,524

83,358

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

84,977

11,524

96,501

6.	LEGAL STATUS

Healthwatch Darlington Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charitable company.

7.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Computer

equipment

£

COST

At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

11,459

DEPRECIATION

At 1 April 2024

11,218

Charge for year

121

At 31 March 2025

11,339

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

120

At 31 March 2024

241

8.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

-

39,000

Prepayments

2,345

-

2,345

39,000

9.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade creditors

1,517

30,159

Accruals and deferred income

1,631

1,548

3,148

31,707

10.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

Transfers

movement

between

At

At 1/4/24

in funds

funds

31/3/25

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

84,977

(29,587

)

(10,000

)

45,390

Restricted funds

Designated Funds

11,524

-

10,000

21,524

TOTAL FUNDS

96,501

(29,587

)

-

66,914

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

103,910

(133,497

)

(29,587

)

TOTAL FUNDS

103,910

(133,497

)

(29,587

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1/4/23

in funds

31/3/24

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

71,834

13,143

84,977

Restricted funds

Designated Funds

11,524

-

11,524

TOTAL FUNDS

83,358

13,143

96,501

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

233,281

(220,138

)

13,143

TOTAL FUNDS

233,281

(220,138

)

13,143

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

Transfers

movement

between

At

At 1/4/23

in funds

funds

31/3/25

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

71,834

(16,444

)

(10,000

)

45,390

Restricted funds

Designated Funds

11,524

-

10,000

21,524

TOTAL FUNDS

83,358

(16,444

)

-

66,914

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

337,191

(353,635

)

(16,444

)

TOTAL FUNDS

337,191

(353,635

)

(16,444

)

11.	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

Healthwatch Darlington Limited operates a defined contribution scheme which commenced 31 March 2015.

Pension contributions amounted to £6,129 for the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024 £5,725), there are 4 employees participating in the scheme during the period.

12.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.